horsfali



(Nb Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet-l.

W. HORSPAL-L. GARBAGE FURNACE,

Patented Oot. 22, 1895.

Witnesses ANDREW B GRANAMJNDTD'U'I'NQWISNINGW N.D.C.

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

- W. HORSPALL. GARBAGE FURNACE.

Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

k imm A.

UNrTEo STATES PATENT Orrrcs.

WILLIAM HORSFALL, OF LEEDS, ENGLAND.

GARBAGE-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,254, dated October 22, 1895.

Application filed January 7, 1895- Serial No. 534,115. (No model.)

f all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HORSFALL, a citizen of England, residing at Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garbage-Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to furnaces for burning garbage or city refuse; and the invention consists in a novel construction of the furnace, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line so mof Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 4 are views of portions shown detached.

The object of my present invention is to so construct a furnace that it will burn garbage and refuse material even when containing a large percentage of moisture and generate steam for operating the same with all the necessary appliances, and that shall be practically automatic in operation. To accomplish these results I construct the body A in the form of a double-walled open-ended tube of uniform diameter from end to end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner and outer walls having a space between them for containing water, they being securely riveted at their ends to form a steam-boiler. This body may be made of any desired size and is set up endwise on a suitable base B, which may be wholly of cast-iron, as shown, or of masonry, with irons inserted for the bearings of the grate, supports, &c. Centrally within this body I build a cone 0, which is hollow to receive air from a pipe R at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 1, the cone being provided with a series of radial openings or tuyeres c for the passage of air, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This cone above the grate G is composed of blocks of fire-brick or iron molded to the proper form and size, as represented in Fig. 1, the upper one being conical and solid at the top to cover the central opening and prevent the material from entering the same. Over each hole or tuyere 6 there is a projection a to prevent the material from closing the mouths of the holes. At the base of this cone I locate an annular grate G, the frame of which consists of two metal rings 7", connected by a series of rods, as shown in Fig. 1, the grate-bars being set upon this frame, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the frame being supported on a series of rollers g g, as shown in Fig. 1.

'In case the two rollers are both made fast on a common shaft the outer roller g of each pair will be enough larger in diameter than the inner one to compensate for the difference in the size of the two rings rof the frame, and thus prevent any slipping or binding of the parts. The rollers may be loose on their shafts, in which case they may be of uniform diameter; but I prefer the plan shown. It will be observed by examining Fig. 1 that the inner ring 7' is enough wider than the outer one to compensate for the ditference in size of the rollers, thereby enabling the grate-bars to have their upper surfaces level orin a true horizontal plane. In order to rotate this grate I secure to the outer face of the outer ring a series of segments a, provided with suitable teeth to engage with a worm or screw J, secured to a shaft m, mounted in suitable bearings and carrying a sprocket-wheel, to which motion is imparted by a chain L, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the cinder or dbris will be brought around opposite a door N, (shown in Fig. 1,) where it can be raked off or removed either continuously or at intervals, as circumstances may require.

Just above the cone, within the body A, I arrange a circle of fire-brick blocks D, of the form shown in Fig. 1, and shown detached in Figs. 3 and 4, they being supported by an angle-iron Z, secured to the inner wall of the body or boiler, as shown in Fig. 1. These blocks are curved inward at their center, so that when fitted in place there will be formed between them and the inner wall of the body a large circular flue F, which is connected at one side by a pipe 0 with a suitable stack. (Not shown.)

By examining Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the blocks D are formed with a recess 25 in each of their abutting sides, so that when set in place, as represented in Fig. 1, there will be formed at their lower sides a series of oblong openings 0, which lead into the flue F, for the entrance of the smoke and gases arising from the fire below. At the top of the furnace and reaching down to the throat of this fire-brick ring, as shown in Fig. 1, I place a conical hopper H, to guide and feed in the material.

For the purpose of supplying the material to the furnace I form a dumping-pit P, near the base at one side, itsbottom beinginclined and curved, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to cause the material when dumped therein to gravitate to the bottom, so as to be readily taken up by the buckets b of an endless conveyer T, mounted vertically alongside of the furnace, as shown in Fig. 1.

At the bottom of the pit P one or more drains or pipes at are arranged to conduct away any liquids there may be in the material, and as a further means of draining the liquid from the material the buckets b are perforated, so that as the material is being hoisted any remaining liquid will separate and fallback into the pit below. In order to prevent the drip from one bucket falling into another below it, it is only necessary to set the elevator at an inclination, and which can be readily done, if desired.

The conveyer at the top passes over sprocketwheels secured to a shaft M, mounted in suitable boxes or bearings, and which are supported by a suitable frame fastened upon the brackets \V, which in turn are secured tothe body A at its top. The bearings for this shaft M are vertically adjustable, and one or more screws 0 is provided for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the conveyor may be kept taut and any looseness caused by wear of the links can be taken up whenever necessary. At thelowerend the conveyer passes around a similar shaft E, which projects at one side, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with a sprocket-wheel u, from which a chain L extends to another sprocket-wheel u upon the shaft m, which carries the worm J that operates the grate.

Themain shaft E will of course be operated by a steam'engine, which may be located at any convenient point, and which is to be supplied by steam generated in the body or boiler A, this boiler of course being provided with a steam-dome and otherusual appliances, but which, with the engine, being well understood, I have not thought necessary to show. A blower driven by the same engine will also be used to create a forced blast through the pipe R and the holes or tuyeres of the cone 0.

Vhen thus constructed the operation is as follows: A fire is first started in the furnace with ordinary fuel and continued until the furnace is thoroughly heated and sufficient steam is generated in the boiler to drive the engine and operate the conveyer and the grate. The material is then lifted from the pit by the conveyer, which dumps it into the hopper H, an inclined plate 19 being used to assist its delivery into the hopper, as shown in Fig. 1, though bya proper arrangement of the elevator this may be dispensed with, if desired. The material passes by gravity from the hopper down into the furnace, where the intense heat, aided by the forced currents of heated air through the numerous openings or tuyeres in the'central cone, soon consumes the lower portion of the mass, and as it is consumed the mass above settles down gradually, and thus the process continues automatically, the cinders being raked out occasionally as the grate brings them around opposite the door. The finer ashes, of course, fall through the grate into the pit below, from which they are removed as occasion requires. A cover for the hopper may be applied,if desired. The gases arising from the combustion coming in contact with the highly-heated fire-brick D, and being divided up into a number of streams as they pass through the openings 0 into the flue F, are so burned as to practically destroy their offensive odors, and, being conducted to a tall stack, are delivered so high as to be soon dissipated in the atmosphere; thus rendering the use of the furnace practicable, even in cities or their suburbs. If, however, any diliiculty be experienced in this respect, other well-known means may be used in the stack for rendering the gases innocuous.

It will, of course, be apparent that, if desired, the body or boiler A may be incased with any non-conducting material to prevent the radiation and loss of heat, and also that any surplus of steam generated in the boiler may be used for other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination in a garbage furnace, of the upright annular boiler hotly A open at its top, the central hollow and perforated cone A arranged within the same, and a rotary grate, occupying the annular space between the cone and the body A, said body being provided with an opening N located on a level with the grate, for removing the clinker as it is brought opposite said opening bythe ro- I tating grate, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an upright annular garbage furnace such as described, a ring of tire brick blocks D, said blocks having a curve in their outer faces with recesses in their adjoining faces to form an annular flue F with passages 0 opening into said flue, said ring being located within and near the top of the furnace body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the upright furnace arranged to be fed at its top, the (lumping pit P provided with one or more outlets for draining away the liquid portions of the garbage, with an elevator provided with perforated buckets, arranged to take the solid portion of the material from the pit and deliver it at the top or mouth of the furnace, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand 1n the presence of two witnesses.

WM. HORSFALL. \Vitnesses:

NORFLEET HARRIS, CHAs. GILLIARD. 

